Key Takeaways
- El Salvador is training 80,000 government employees in Bitcoin.
- The certification program offers 160 hours of virtual training.
- Argentina is learning from El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption experience.
El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) has introduced a new certification program to train 80,000 government employees in Bitcoin.
The initiative, called “Certification in Public Administration 1,” offers a 160-hour virtual course covering seven modules focused on strategic management, laws, and skills related to Bitcoin as legal tender.
Low time preference
Stacy Herbert, director of ONBTC, believes this program will have a long-lasting impact on the country’s Bitcoin-driven economy.
She stated:
These education projects are very low time preference commitments to the long-term success of El Salvador and its Bitcoin (and tech) policy.
The Higher School of Innovation in Public Administration (ESIAP), established by President Nayib Bukele in 2021, is leading the program.
The certification is part of a broader effort to build a workforce equipped to manage and implement Bitcoin policies effectively.
Other nations
El Salvador’s success in Bitcoin adoption has drawn interest from other nations.
In May, Argentina’s National Securities Commission began working with El Salvador to learn from its Bitcoin experience.
Argentina has been exploring cryptocurrency regulation and adoption, particularly after Bitcoin-friendly President Javier Milei took office in late 2023.
